Process of purifying and concentrating sugar-juices.



kilograms of juice at 5 to 6 Baum.

centratin g apparatus.

UNITED STATES Patented September 8, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

J ULES ADOLPHE BESSON, OF OAEN, FRANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,398, datedSeptember 8, 1903.

Application filed March 31 1902 Serial No. 100,823. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J ULES ADOLPHE BESSON, a citizen of the FrenchRepublic, and a resident of Oaen, France, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Processes of Purifying and ConcentratingSugar-Juices, of which the following is a specification This inventionhas for its object to facilitate and quicken the boiling of thesugarjuices in the concentrator and concurrently by the same means topurify them, so that the concentration is effected more rapidly and at alower temperature than has hitherto been possible with the methods ofdiscoloring purification heretofore used and the attendant decrease ofviscidity and so also that the purification is more thoroughlyaccomplished.

In my invention the juices of beet-roots, sugar-cane, or other sugarsolutions containing organic and mineral impurities, whatever may havebeen the prior processes to which they have been submitted, are mixed atthe time of concentration with extremely comminuted metallic powders.

In practice about one gram of powdered aluminium or alloy is employedfor one hundred The metallic powder is generally added to the juice inthe feeding Vat of the evaporator. At definite intervals of time (halfhourly, for example) a quantity of powder corresponding to the demandduring that period is added and mixed summarily by means of a suitableagitator. The powder, heldin suspension in the juice, penetrates throughit into the con- It will be known that the dose of reagentlis sufficientwhen the syrup leaving the apparatus still contains metallic particleswhich have not been attacked.

During all the period of concentration the aluminium is attackedaccording to the equation:

Al (EH 0 =Al (OIl) 3H The alumina forms a precipitate,wl1ich draws withit lime, silica, various mineral and organic matters, as well as somecoloring-matters. This precipitate remains in suspension in the syrupand resists the incrustation of the kettles. It is separated ultimatelyby the filtration of the syrup. As to the hydrogen set free, it reducesand destroys certain coloring-matters. Besides, it promotes by itsrelease the formation of vapor-bubbles, since each metallic particlebecomes,with its sheath of hydrogen, the center of the production ofvapory bubbles. By reason of this activity of ebullition as much as bythe resistance to incrustation the yield of the evaporatory apparatus isaugmented.

An improved process of purifying and concentrating sugar-juicesconsisting in boiling said juices in a suitable boiling-pan and atdefinite intervals of time adding thereto a quantity of powderedaluminium and. thoroughly mixing said metallic powder with the juice.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

J ULES ADOLPI-IE BESSON.

Witnesses:

E. SAUVAGE, J. DUNoIs.

